THE SHORT-HAIRED CAT 167 



being born to British bred and born cats, without any 

 known trace of Russian blue blood in their veins, but I 

 always think they fail in type, though fairly correct in 

 colour. They are often mean and pinched in muzzle, and 

 with a different expression of countenance, to that 

 noticeable in those whose ancestors were imported 

 specimens. 



The head should be round, fairly large in males, but 

 much smaller in females, broad and well-filled-out cheeks, 

 and rather short face and dark nose. 



The ears rather large, full and open, wider than most 

 of the Short Hairs. 



The eyes should be large, round, rather sleepy in ex- 

 pression, and orange yellow in colour. 



The body should be closely knit, compact and rounded 

 in its outlines, not very long, and without flat appearance 

 at the sides. 



Legs and feet rather short than long, and muscular. 



The tail inclined to be short and substantial. 



The coat should be short, dense and close lying, 

 giving a sleek appearance. 



The colour should be a slaty plum - coloured blue, 

 and should be even all over, without tints or marks ; 

 in very light-coloured specimens the eyes may be 

 yellow. 



Condition should be hard and workmanlike, and the 

 appearance always conveys the idea to me of a diminutive 

 specimen of the Puma. 



Size of males, eight to ten pounds ; of females, about 

 six to eight pounds. 



